VCA 18K and Silver Hoops Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Vintage VCA 18K gold and silver hoops earrings marked: VCA 750/925 serial number and French
20th Century French Hoop Earrings
18k Gold
VCA 18K and Silver Hoops Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Vintage VCA 18K gold and silver hoops earrings marked: VCA 750/925 serial number and French
18k Gold
$24,559
W 1.58 in L 1.58 in
Van Cleef & Arpels Pery & Fils VCA Diamond Earrings Brooch Floral Set Gold 1960s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels (Pery & Fils Workshop) Diamond Brooch and Earrings Floral Suite in 18kt yellow
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire & Diamond Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Sausalito, CA
One pair of 18kt. gold VCA huggie style earrings. consisting of: 20-Round brilliant cut diamonds
$10,500Sale Price|29% Off
Van Cleef & Arpels Mabé Pearl and Diamond Ear Clips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in San Francisco, CA
Circa 1980's, these VCA NY 18k gold clip earrings are classic designs from the period. Each earring
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
$32,000
VCA Rose de Noel Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Sarasota, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Black MOP 'Rose de Noel' Ear Clip Earrings In 18k White Gold (Medium). The
18k Gold
VCA Heart Shaped Earrings in 18K Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
VCA Heart Shaped Earrings in 18K Gold. Each earring has two smooth, polished hearts with rounded
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VCA, 18k Yellow Gold Wood Inlaid Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Kowloon City District, HK
Signed and number by Van Cleef & Arpels. The earrings measure 1” x 0.5”. C.1970
VCA Gold and Diamond Doorknocker Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat stippled gold and diamond doorknocker style earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, 18k Gold
VCA Carnelian Diamond Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 18 karat yellow gold, carnelian and diamond earrings, signed Van Cleef and Arpels, serial
Carnelian, 18k Gold
VCA Onyx Diamond Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
These geometric earrings made of diamond and onyx are a wonderful example of Van Cleef & Arpels
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS VCA Large Hoop Yellow Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Large Hoop Earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels. Details: Weight: 16.9 grams
18k Gold
VCA Gold and Diamond Chou Flower Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 18 karat yellow gold and diamond earrings. Signed VCA and numbered B5501 R10. 1967
VCA Turquoise and Diamond Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
VCA Turquoise and Diamond Earrings Mounted In 18k Yellow Gold And White Gold. Circa 1965. These
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
White and Yellow Diamonds VCA Drop Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
The earrings is finely crafted in 18k yllow gold with round white diamonds weighing approximately
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Alhambra Collection Mother-of-Pearl Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
These exquisite French drop dangle earrings are crafted in solid 18K yellow gold by Designer Van
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Malachite Gold Three Motif Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
authenticity. Retail Price: £7,800 STONES Malachite METAL TYPE 18K White Gold MARKS VCA Au750 Serial
Malachite, Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Alhambra VCA Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Alhambra Earrings This Van Cleef & Arpels Mother of
18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Sweet Alhambra White Gold Natural Diamond Stud Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Baltimore, MD
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Sweet Alhambra White Gold Natural Diamond Stud Earrings Metal: 18 karat
Diamond, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Earrings Onyx 18k Yellow Gold 5600
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Northbrook, IL
in luxurious 18k yellow gold, these earrings feature a captivating clover design. The centerpiece is
Onyx, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Sold
W 1.3 in L 1.38 in
VCA Van Cleef & Arpels Braided Hoop Earrings 18 Karat Yellow Gold, France, 1960s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
1960s Van Cleef & Arpels Braided Hoop Earrings in Yellow Gold, French, c. 1969. A pair of clip-on
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clip-On Hoop VCA Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Coast. These Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold Clip-On Earrings are notable at 30.6 grams with a 30 x
Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Long Mother of Pearl Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
******** ______________________________________ Metal 18K Yellow Gold Weight Approx
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
W 0.99 in L 0.75 in
VCA Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Diamond Leaf Earrings Yellow Gold, French, 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
VCA Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Leaf Earrings in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Diamond, Yellow Gold
White Mother of Pearl Clover 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Alhambra Earrings VCA
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A single clover motif adorns Van Cleef & Arpels' Vintage Alhambra Earrings! White mother of pearl
VCA Van Cleef & Arpels Lotus Diamond Earrings White Gold New York Box Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
VCA Van Cleef & Arpels Lotus medium model clip-on diamond earrings in rhodium-plated 18kt white
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold
W 1.11 in L 1.11 in
Van Cleef & Arpels Andre Vassort VCA Knot Ring and Clip Earrings Set Gold 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels André Vassort for VCA gordian knot earrings & cocktail ring set in 18kt textured
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Van Cleef and Arpels, one of the top two jewelry brands. These are the quintessential VCA gold and
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold French Leaf Clip on Vintage Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of VCA diamond and 18K gold earrings with a lovely leaf motif. Organic patter of
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Andre Vassort VCA Knot Ring and Clip Earrings Set Gold 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels André Vassort for VCA gordian knot earrings & cocktail ring set in 18kt textured
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VCA gold earrings
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Austin, TX
Gold ring by Pomellato
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Alhambra Turquoise Earrings in 18 Karat Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
Van Cleef & Arpels sweet turquoise Alhambra 18K white gold earstuds. It is a very rare piece, you
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Sold
W 0.38 in Dm 0.38 in L 0.38 in
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Sweet Alhambra White Gold Natural Diamond Stud Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Baltimore, MD
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Sweet Alhambra White Gold Natural Diamond Stud Earrings Metal: 18 karat
Diamond, White Gold
Sold
H 2 in W 0.75 in L 2 in
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Mother of Pearl 18-Karat Gold Magic Alhambra Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
back underside of each earring reads: 'VCA', '750'. Please note, full serial number for buyer only
18k Gold, Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise YG Earrings, VCA Pouch Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These gorgeous Van Cleef & Arpels earrings iconic Sweet Alhambra collection feature the lucky
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise YG Earrings. VCA Pouch Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These gorgeous Van Cleef & Arpels earrings iconic Sweet Alhambra collection feature the lucky
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Long Mother of Pearl Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
taxes ______________________________________ Metal 18K Yellow Gold
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Long Mother of Pearl Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
******** ______________________________________ Metal 18K Yellow Gold Weight Approx
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA 18 Karat Vintage Alhambra Black Onyx Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Baltimore, MD
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA 18K Vintage Alhambra Onyx Earrings Metal: 18k yellow gold Weight: 7.13
18k Gold
vca earrings
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Austin, TX
Gold ring by Pomellato
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VCA golf earrings 16800
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Austin, TX
Gold ring by Pomellato
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpel’s Magic Alhambra 3 Motif drop earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Addlestone, GB
Alhambra white gold earrings each presented with 3 Motifs. Set in MOP and Chalcedony, grey and white. They
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Vintage Alhambra Diamond Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lambertville, NJ
METAL 18K Yellow Gold GEMSTONES/DIAMONDS Diamonds - approx. 0.80ctw MEASUREMENTS Earrings are
Diamond, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS VCA Alhambra Gold Mother Of Pearl Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Metal:18K Yellow Gold Marked/Tested:VCA, 750, BL131655 Gemstones/Diamonds:Mother Of Pearl Clarity
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Malachite Gold Three Motif Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Alhambra collection, with malachite stones. Earrings are 68mm long x 20mm wide. Marked: VCA, au750
Malachite, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Vintage Alhambra Onyx Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An 18k yellow gold pair of earrings set with onyx clover motifs. Crafted by Van Cleef & Arpels for
Onyx, 18k Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels VCA Flowerlace Earrings VCARF99000
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Sunny Isles Beach, FL
Van Cleef and Arpels "VCA" Flowerlace earrings in 18K White Gold. Elegantly curved diamond petals
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Yellow Gold Diamond Wings Earrings
Located in New York , NY
Authentic Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Earrings. Set in 18k yellow gold, diamonds
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Diamond Large Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of 18k yellow gold earrings set with 2.20ctw of FG/VVS diamonds. Earrings are 20mm x 20mm
Diamond, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS VCA "Lucky Alhambra" Hardstone Gold Necklace Earrings Set
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York , NY
100% AUTHENTIC VAN CLEEF & ARPELS "LUCKY ALHAMBRA" 18K Gold Hardstone Necklace Earrings Set. The
Carnelian, Malachite, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS VCA Gold Onyx & Diamond Flower Ear
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These amazing onyx and diamond flower earrings from VCA are big and bold, and can be dressed up or
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
Van Cleaf & Arpels Vintage Onyx Gold Alhambra Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Ever so in Vouge these VCA 18KT yellow gold "Alhambra" Onyx Earrings. These are timeless!
Onyx, 18k Gold
Signed Van Cleef & Arpels 18 Karat Yellow Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic vintage signed Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) 18K yellow gold nugget style earrings with non
18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS HOOPS
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Classic VCA 18k gold hoop earrings."Invisible"closure, so hoop fits directly on ear.Perfect size
Tiffany 18k Yellow Gold Vintage Flower Earrings
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Following World War II, the jewelry of the 1950s and 1960s was markedly more feminine, precious and elegant. In a sharp break from the stark clothing styles of the 1940s, Mid-Century...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$5,890
W 0.32 in L 0.79 in
18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Rope Twist Diamond Ear Studs by Boucheron, Paris
By Boucheron
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
A pair of 18 K yellow Gold rope twist gold and diamond clip earrings of knotted design. The top part showcases 6 brilliant cut Diamonds set in a floral motif design. Total weight of ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Hermes Birkin 30 Vert Fonce Matte Porosus Crocodile Bag Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an exquisite Hermes Birkin 30 bag is featured in in lush deep Vert Fonce Porosus Crocodile. This exotic Hermes Birkin bag in matte Porosus crocodile skin has magni...
CHRISTIAN DIOR taupe FOX FUR Winter Coat Sz. F38 / M
By Christian Dior
Located in Zürich, CH
Christian Dior coat in off-white, brown, and taupe fox fur with wide collar. Two side pockets. Opens with two hooks on the front. Lined in black silk. Has been worn and is in excelle...
$4,687 / set
W 0.25 in L 1 in
Vintage Fred Paris Pave Diamond Tassel Clip On Earrings in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Fred Paris
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Step back into an era of timeless glamour with these exquisite vintage Fred Paris earrings, a true testament to the artistry and elegance that define the iconic brand. These clip-on ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace
Located in London, GB
A Victorian natural pearl and diamond necklace, the twelve graduated cluster motifs each centred with natural bouton pearls measuring from 5.6 mm to 9 mm, within a surround of old br...
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Van Cleef & Arpels Black Diamond and Onyx Band Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Bethesda, MD
♦ Designer / Hallmarks: Van Cleef & Arpels ♦ Metal: 18 karat ♦ Gem stone: 20 Diamonds = .60 carats F VS1 ♦ Width 8mm ♦ Design Era: Contemporary ♦ Circa 1999 ♦ Size 6, ♦ Weight 7.9 g...
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
Giorgio Armani Vintage Dress Hand Beaded Fleurette on Tulle Formal Gown 40
By Giorgio Armani
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a rare and vintage Giorgio Armani gown so divinely exquisite that it can take you from the Red Carpet to the White House. Breathtaking and the epitome of the Giorgi...
GIVENCHY Couture A/W 1998 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Ruby Red Wool Button Front Dress
By Alexander McQueen, Givenchy
Located in Thiensville, WI
GIVENCHY Couture A/W 1998 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Ruby Red Wool Knit Fitted Button Front Dress Circa: 1998 Label(s): Givenchy / Couture / Made In France / Paris / 8HG 8520152830 Desig...
GIA Certified Natural Emerald &Old Cut Diamond Three Stone Cluster Platinum Ring
Located in OVIEDO, AS
Natural Colombian Emerald and diamond three stone Ring This Colombian emerald has a beautiful combination of color and tone. The emerald is 70% primary green color with a medium inte...
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
BVLGARI Serpenti Seduttori Diamond & Multi-Gemstone Necklace
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Drawing inspiration from the enchanting symbolism of the mythical snake that sheds its skin, representing change and renewal, Bulgari's Serpenti icon has stood as a beacon of transfo...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, White Gold
Victorian, 23.17 Carat Old Cushion Shape Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Victorian drop earrings! 36 gradual old European diamonds set in gold & silver in a circular shape & filigree workmanship, with estimated total weight of 8 carats Center di...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Delvaux Tempete PM Himalaya Crocodile Limited Edition Bag
By Delvaux
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a Limited Edition Delvaux Tempete PM bag featured in Blanc Casse Himalayan Crocodile. Exquisite and sought after, the Himalaya Crocodile Tempete is a one of one cre...
Emilio Jewelry GIA Certified 5.00 Carat Flawless Fancy Pink Diamond
By Emilio!
Located in New York, NY
From Emilio Jewelry, a well known and respected wholesaler/dealer located in the Iconic Gem Tower/Gia Building in New York's Diamond District. The color of this diamond is much bette...
Pink Diamond
Van Cleef & Arpels 20 Motif Turquoise Vintage Alhambra Necklace 18k White Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
A rare and authentic Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise 'Alhambra' Necklace creation crafted in 18K White Gold. This special necklace accompanies a Letter of Authenticity from Van Clee...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$39,106
Size: FR 36 - UK 8 - US 4
Christian Dior by John Galliano cream silk one-shoulder evening dress, ss 1998
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
▪ Christian Dior cream silk brocade one-shoulder evening dress ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Built-in corset ▪ Double layered ▪ Draped overskirt ▪ Beaded and silk thread tassels ...
One of the world’s foremost jewelry houses, Van Cleef & Arpels is particularly noted for a focus on technical virtuosity, craftsmanship and artistry, evident since its beginning. Rather than create earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other adornments primarily for the aim of displaying of wealth and opulence, Van Cleef & Arpels sought to produce jewelry that projected the wearer’s taste and style.
The company was formed a year after the 1895 marriage of Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a gem cutter, to Estelle Arpels, daughter of precious-stones dealer Salomon Arpels. Ten years later, Van Cleef & Arpels opened its first boutique on the Place Vendôme in Paris, setting the march on a square now crowded with dealers in bijouterie. (The company still occupies the New York flagship store opened in 1939 at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.)
Born from a union of expertise in both jewelry making and gem selection, Van Cleef & Arpels distinguished itself with both the consistency of the color and clarity of its stones and the creativity of its designs. In doing so, the house would win a roster of dedicated, fashion-conscious clients that included the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Hutton, Jacqueline Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor. In 1933, Van Cleef & Arpels patented its trademark Mystery Setting — a technique by which gems are fitted into an intricate matrix of slots and “drawers” that keep the setting hidden. Another signal innovation was the Zip necklace, introduced in 1951, which can be worn either around the neck or, with the zipper closed, as a bracelet.
But as much as to the firm’s craftsmanship, clients have been drawn by the insouciance and playfulness of Van Cleef & Arpels designers, as well as their attunement to the cultural climate. After the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the company produced several lavish pieces featuring hieroglyphics and other Egyptian motifs to go along with the geometric Art Deco jewelry of that decade and the next. Following World War II, as symbols of freedom and rebirth, the firm focused on naturalistic forms such as birds, flowers, fruit and flying insects. High society’s 1960s fascination with the Near East and India prompted such pieces as the best-selling Alhambra necklace, popularized by Princess Grace.
Lately, attention among collectors and connoisseurs has centered on Van Cleef & Arpels’s quality of workmanship as much as its glamour. The firm was the subject of a 2012 show at the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, as well as exhibitions at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, in 2013 and at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2014.
Find an exquisite collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on 1stDibs.
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.